Trent Richardson and Greg McElroy powered top-ranked Alabama's offense, and the Crimson Tide's inexperienced defense was just as good, as Alabama dominated No. 14 Penn State in a 24-3 victory Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alabama (2-0) played without reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram for the second consecutive game, but for the second week in a row, the Crimson Tide didn't miss him. Richardson rushed for 144 yards on 22 carries and scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter; he added four receptions for 45 yards.

Senior quarterback Greg McElroy threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-24 passing. His scoring passes went to Kevin Norwood and Preston Dial, while Julio Jones added four catches for 49 yards.

Alabama's defense, which features seven new starters from a year ago and played without suspended defensive end Marcell Dareus, shut down a Penn State offense that put up 44 points last week against Youngstown State. The Crimson Tide limited the Nittany Lions to 279 yards and kept them off the scoreboard until Collin Wagner's 36-yard field goal with 9:52 left in the fourth quarter.

Freshman quarterback Robert Bolden completed 13-of-29 passes for 141 yards for Penn State (1-1), and Evan Royster, who entered the game needing only 441 yards to become the school's all-time leading rusher, was held to 32 yards on nine carries.

The meeting was the first between two of college football's historical powers since 1990. Alabama leads the all-time series 9-5.